Work Text:
Xiao's area of expertise usually lies in things he can fight. Shapeless, invisible to the human eye, things that eat away at him; but it's what he does, and he does it well.
He isn't entirely sure what to do with a child though. While the mortals around her seem happy enough to be fooled by her cheery smiles and playful words, Xiao knows better. Why can't the humans tell, the dangers the small red figure rushing down the streets can hold?
He pulls out his mask. Appearing suddenly in large crowds is again, not his typical style, and he knows he promised that he would let the humans take care of themselves, especially during a celebration like this—
The girl is getting closer to the docks. Xiao makes up his mind and dons his mask. He slips into the crowd as inconspicuously as he can, given the circumstances, spots his target and—
He got distracted. He forgot to pay attention to the rest of his surroundings. He's on... the ground? Peoples feet narrowly avoid his head, giving him much too wide of a berth... he quickly recovers and goes to get up.
His limbs don't seem to be responding, as if there's a weight keeping him down. That's not good. And why is there hair in his mouth?
Oh.
"Oh."
The odd weight on his chest lessens. There are two eyes staring into his own, turquoise in colour and looking as troubled as he felt.
But Xiao doesn't have time for this. He gets rid of his mask and brings a hand to his mouth to brush away the troublesome... blonde hair?
"I'm so sorry— ah, I wish I could apologize better, but I—"
Xiao grunts in response. Neither of them had the time for politeness, clearly. The waves of people still go around the two of them, but they have no idea of the danger that had already been allowed out of Xiao's sight for too long.
The blonde takes the hint and mostly pushes himself off, clearly trying but failing to avoid any unneeded contact. There was an obvious lack of space given the fact they were in the middle of the packed boardwalk, but he still attempted to stand up.
Xiao stands up himself, before the clumsy stranger sends them both to the ground again. This time, the blonde has fallen into his chest after getting jostled by the evermoving crowd, yet it somehow manages to feel more awkward than the first time.
Xiao frowns. He's already been stalled enough—
"Wait. Have you seen Klee?"
"...Klee?"
"Yes. A little girl, in red—"
So the stranger does know. Xiao could tell he wasn't human, and was a lot more perceptive than he let on, despite the clumsiness. But even that could be excused by the crowd neither of them seemed to fit in with.
"No time."
They'll never get anywhere on the ground. Xiao swiftly scoops up the stranger and jumps.
"Ah-?"
Probably one of the less horrified reactions Xiao had gotten when transporting citizens this way, although he supposed there hadn't been many of those to begin with.
From this new vantage point, he could easily spot the red hat weaving through the crowd. He was correct; she was heading towards the packed docks, where people had long since begun setting up, hoping to find a good place to watch the later fireworks from.
If he hadn't been so preoccupied, he might've pitied them. One of the few exceptions he gave himself from his duties, was the opportunity to watch the show from high above, higher than most humans can go.
Although... if they had known, perhaps the small specks of mortals down there might've pitied him too— what's the point of watching the fireworks, if he so often watched them alone...?
Still, those were mortal concerns. And his concern was getting to the docks before the threat could. He dove.
Another gasp from the being in his arms as they landed. He quickly deposited him on the docks in a rather dignified manner and turned his focus.
"If you go that way, we can cut her off."
Without waiting for a response or checking if the stranger was capable enough to understand a simple command such as that, Xiao went in.
Where was the little red being even headed? The humans walked and talked, ignorantly enjoying themselves, but oh so easily blocking the sight of the small little girl from Xiao. A group of rowdy teenagers laughed and wandered by.
"She's going to the fireworks mechanisms."
Seems the stranger did know how to work with him.
Xiao grit his teeth. The danger may be small in size, but she was no joke in impact. He rushed down to the emptier lower docks, where the machinery and fuses were held, and saw the threat taking off her filled backpack, reaching for a button, the sounds of an explosion—
"Happy Lantern Rite!"
...What?
Xiao slid back into the shadows, confused. His assessment couldn't have been wrong. But there the danger was, giggling without a care in the world like she had been earlier— was Xiao also being deceived?!
And along with her... was the stranger, also smiling and laughing while watching the fireworks display. Xiao was... dumbfounded. Had he been too overly cautious?
"Oh, it's you! I saw you with brother Albedo!"
......What? Xiao blinked. So they were siblings? Then again, they both did have the power to make even Xiao feel the corners of his mouth tug when he witnessed them being joyful.
"You can come out. I never did get to properly apologize for bumping into you like that."
The stranger, or rather, Albedo, walks up to Xiao. Xiao once again, turns to leave.
"No, please wait. Thank you, for helping me find my sister. I'm Albedo, and she is Klee. And you...?"
"...Xiao."
The fireworks continued on, but they didn't seem to be loud enough to drown out Xiao's voice. He mostly felt awkward, than anything, being down here with the mortals... interrupting Albedo and Klee's time by his own assumptions...
"Here. It's a better view."
"Yeah, come, come, brother Xiao! The fireworks are sooo pretty!"
He hesitated. They didn't let him. Before he really knew what was happening, he was sitting right with them. He glanced down. Klee was enraptured by the dazzling lights, proudly proclaiming how she had been allowed to be the one to start them. He glanced right.
Albedo was looking right at him too, and smiled.
"I hope we didn't interrupt any other plans you had for watching the fireworks."
"...You didn't."
Maybe he'd make some new plans for next year anyway.